ISSN:
1432-1246
Schlagwort(e):
Key words Primary aluminum industry
;
Spirometry
;
Fluoride
;
Across-shift changes
Quelle:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Thema:
Medizin
Notizen:
Abstract Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate possible acute and long-term respiratory health effects of work at different working places in the primary aluminum industry. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 78 potroom workers, 24 foundry workers, and 45 carbon-plant workers (n = 147, exposed group), and 56 control workers (watchmen, craftsmen, office workers, laboratory employees) of a modern German prebake aluminum plant. The survey consisted of pre- and postshift spirometric and urinary fluoride measurements. Results: Potroom workers had significantly lower preshift results with regard to forced vital capacity (FVC, 99.5% versus the 107.2% predicted; P 〈 0.05) and peak expiratory flow (PEF, 85.2% versus the 98.4% predicted; P 〈 0.01) as compared with controls. In a multiple regression model a small but significant negative correlation was found between postshift urinary fluoride concentrations and FVC, FEV1, and PEF. Across-shift spirometric changes were observed only in FVC among carbon-plant workers (103.0 ± 13.3% predicted preshift value versus 101.2 ± 13.6% predicted postshift value; P 〈 0.05). Conclusions: The results suggest that lung function impairment in the modern primary aluminum industry may be only partly due to fluoride exposure and that working in aluminum carbon plants may cause acute lung function changes.
Materialart:
Digitale Medien
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004200050378
Permalink
